Highschool Course Selection

[Anonymous]

Hi. My DS wants to study medicine, and he is currently a sophomore going into junior year. His course registration is due in a few days, and he is debating whether he should take AP Chem next year or AP Bio. Which order is better if he wants to pursue a career in medicine? He is thinking AP Chem for Junior year.

Also, would his language credits from middle school account for his total years of language credits taken? Or is it just from high school?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think the order matters from admissions perspective. I’ll defer to someone else as to which is better to do first academically. Chem will be fresher in mind junior year but bio very distant by senior year. Anyone weigh in on that?

Middle school language may technically count for some colleges but for competitive colleges, the gold standard is to reach AP in high school. I wouldn’t do less than two years in high school for sure.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. One more thing, for AP Chem you are only taking 1 AP exam right? Despite the fact that it is a double period course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. One more thing, for AP Chem you are only taking 1 AP exam right? Despite the fact that it is a double period course?

Correct

[Anonymous]

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

It matters not. Medical schools do not look at HS courses or order they were taken. They confirm that you have completed the Pre-Med requirements with a high degree of success. Of those requirements, Organic Chemistry matters more than General Chem.

The better way to determine what to take is what does he have an interest in majoring in during college? What subject does he have the greatest interest?

[Anonymous]

AP Bio is better preparation for the insane amount of useless memorization required for med school.

[Anonymous]

Another factor - in our HS AP Bio is hard to get into for Juniors because there is so much demand by Seniors (they go to lottery and only a few Jrs get in); AP Chemistry is easier.

Also, if in Honors Chemistry this year, it is helpful to go straight to AP Chem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It matters not. Medical schools do not look at HS courses or order they were taken. They confirm that you have completed the Pre-Med requirements with a high degree of success. Of those requirements, Organic Chemistry matters more than General Chem.

The better way to determine what to take is what does he have an interest in majoring in during college? What subject does he have the greatest interest?

I think she’s asking about admissions and preparation for undergrad, where student would be pre-med.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It matters not. Medical schools do not look at HS courses or order they were taken. They confirm that you have completed the Pre-Med requirements with a high degree of success. Of those requirements, Organic Chemistry matters more than General Chem.

The better way to determine what to take is what does he have an interest in majoring in during college? What subject does he have the greatest interest?

I think she’s asking about admissions and preparation for undergrad, where student would be pre-med.

Still it matters not which order the kid takes the classes. Particularly since we have no idea what the kid is planning to major in or where they will go to college. Pre-Med is not a major and all natural science major require you to have taken both Chem and Bio.

[Anonymous]

The order doesn't matter BUT my kids have all said that AP Bio is a lot easier than AP Chem and that at our school, it's really hard to get an A in AP Chem. (They worked in AP Bio but I don't think they were ever in danger of not getting an A.).

From a college admissions perspective, then, I'd prefer to complete AP Bio junior year (and get A on transcript). Senior year, at most they'll report first semester grades and not the full year and for early admission, they wouldn't even report that.

[Anonymous]

I agree that the consensus from the kids is that AP Bio is easier than AP Chem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The order doesn't matter BUT my kids have all said that AP Bio is a lot easier than AP Chem and that at our school, it's really hard to get an A in AP Chem. (They worked in AP Bio but I don't think they were ever in danger of not getting an A.).

From a college admissions perspective, then, I'd prefer to complete AP Bio junior year (and get A on transcript). Senior year, at most they'll report first semester grades and not the full year and for early admission, they wouldn't even report that.

This is good intel. So it sounds like for most kids, AP Bio may be better junior year choice. But if your kid is a chemistry ace, it might be more of an admissions flex to ace AP Chem than Bio junior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The order doesn't matter BUT my kids have all said that AP Bio is a lot easier than AP Chem and that at our school, it's really hard to get an A in AP Chem. (They worked in AP Bio but I don't think they were ever in danger of not getting an A.).

From a college admissions perspective, then, I'd prefer to complete AP Bio junior year (and get A on transcript). Senior year, at most they'll report first semester grades and not the full year and for early admission, they wouldn't even report that.

This is good intel. So it sounds like for most kids, AP Bio may be better junior year choice. But if your kid is a chemistry ace, it might be more of an admissions flex to ace AP Chem than Bio junior year.

If you plan to take AP Chemistry, it is better to take it the year after Honors Chemistry when the basics are still fresh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The order doesn't matter BUT my kids have all said that AP Bio is a lot easier than AP Chem and that at our school, it's really hard to get an A in AP Chem. (They worked in AP Bio but I don't think they were ever in danger of not getting an A.).

From a college admissions perspective, then, I'd prefer to complete AP Bio junior year (and get A on transcript). Senior year, at most they'll report first semester grades and not the full year and for early admission, they wouldn't even report that.

This is good intel. So it sounds like for most kids, AP Bio may be better junior year choice. But if your kid is a chemistry ace, it might be more of an admissions flex to ace AP Chem than Bio junior year.

If you plan to take AP Chemistry, it is better to take it the year after Honors Chemistry when the basics are still fresh.

Possibly, but my kids have found Honors Chem to be a joke (98% score and I never ever see studying). I don't know that it's doing much to prepare them for AP Chem.